Dragged away- Val Butler and her husband Michael want their cat Oliver back after he was taken away by two dogs. 78309

By Emma Sun
A COCKATOO resident has made a heartfelt plea for the return of her beloved cat Oliver.
Val Butler said her 16-year-old arthritis-ridden pet was attacked by what she believed were two off-leash bull mastiff cross dogs late last month and dragged away.
She has not seen any hint of him since.
“The whole family is totally gutted because we have had him since he was three weeks old.”
Oliver was sleeping outside on the front doorstep when the attack happened and the couple barely had a chance to save him from the sudden attack.
“My husband and I heard this horrendous noise outside,” Ms Butler said.
“My husband was out of the house in about 20 seconds to see the two dogs had got Oliver – one had him around the throat.
“He tried to make the dogs drop Oliver and screamed at the dogs to let him go but they made off with him.”
Ms Butler said the wall and the door at the front of their house were covered in blood and she knew the chances of Oliver surviving were slim.
But she still wants him back, even if it only was to bury him.
“We’re still looking for him because we’d like to bury him,” she said.
“I had Oliver’s sister as well, who is buried under the apple tree and I would love him to be with her.”
The experience has scarred Ms Butler, who now refuses to own any more cats, despite the fact she has had cats for more than 30 years.
“This has just devastated us,” she said.
“I’ve got one cat left and I have to go out with him at night because he must’ve seen what has happened.
“The first two nights after the incident he slept on the roof over the front door and now he’s always looking over his shoulder.
“I don’t want anymore cats after this, it is just the worse thing.”
She has since phoned Cardinia Shire Council to report the incident.
Compliance manager Alan Giachin said the council was investigating the attack.
“Cardinia Shire Council treats incidences of dog attacks seriously,” he said.
“Two council compliance officers were called to a residence in Cockatoo recently to investigate a report that a cat had been attacked by a dog.
“Investigations into the circumstances of the attack are continuing.”
Ms Butler said the attack was uncalled for and hoped justice will be done.
“Oliver did not deserve it – they had absolutely no right to be on my property,” she said.
“We should be able to live our lives in peace and not have to deal with things like this.”
There have been six dog attack reports in the Cockatoo this year so far.
Last year, 102 were reported shire-wide and nine dogs were destroyed.
To report a dog attack, call Cardinia Shire Council on 1300 787 624 and a compliance services officer will investigate.